Filmmaker Matthew Mishory studied film theory and screenwriting at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was a Regent Scholar and Golden Reel Award recipient. His writings on film criticism and international cinema history have been published in the Focus Media Journal, housed at MOMA in New York City, and in Glitterati Magazine.
His short film Nick and Kate screened in competition at Filminute 2008 (London/Toronto/Bucharest), one of twenty-five official selections culled from a field of nearly two thousand by a jury that included two-time Oscar winner Paul Haggis and German critic Andrea Dittgen. He recently collaborated with television star Erin Daniels on the film Sunday Afternoons and directed the commissioned activist piece The Marionettes, shot entirely with miniatures, an official selection at the 2010 Newport Beach International Film Festival.
In 2009, he wrote and directed the acclaimed experimental biopic Delphinium: A Childhood Portrait of Derek Jarman, the result of his long-time fascination with the work and life of legendary artist Derek Jarman. The film was shot in Los Angeles, across London, and at Jarman's Prospect Cottage estate in Dungeness, Kent. It began its international festival run with premieres at the Raindance Film Festival in London, the Reykjavik International Film Festival in Iceland, and the 22nd MIX Film Festival in New York City. It has subsequently been selected for dozens of film festivals around the world, including FRAMELINE in San Francisco, NEWFEST, TLVFEST in Tel Aviv, InsideOut Toronto, and many others.
In September 2009, Matthew traveled to Iceland, where he was invited to participate in the RIFF Transatlantic Talent Laboratory, a program held in conjunction with the film festival and intended for young filmmakers preparing to direct a first feature film. Instructors included Cannes award winners Giorgos Lanthimos, Jessica Hausner, and Joao Pedro Rodrigues, and Oscar nominee Friğrik Şór Friğriksson.
Matthew is currently directing Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean and prepping the highly anticipated feature Portland, starring Jonathan Caouette (Tarnation), Erin Daniels ("The L Word"), Steven Martini (Lymelife), and Alex Schemmer. It was set to be the late screen legend David Carradine's next film. Matthew is also attached to direct the political documentary, A Non-Issue?.
He also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School at Loyola Marymount University and is very active in progressive political causes. Matthew contributed several Public Service Announcements to the No On Prop 8 effort and has written articles about such diverse subjects as the right to physician-aided suicide and the effect of obscenity laws on transgressive art and expression.